SynCardia Systems, Inc. (www.syncardia.com), manufacturer of the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart, announced today that University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics -- the only comprehensive academic medical center in Iowa -- has performed the state's first implant of the Total Artificial Heart.

"This is a very efficient pump, and it does a great job pumping blood," said James Davis, MD, the cardiothoracic surgeon who implanted the device. "It's similar to a normal heart in terms of its capacity."

The 58-year-old male patient had been suffering from ischemic cardiomyopathy and was implanted with SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart on July 6. Just five days after surgery, the patient was extubated, out of bed, and walking around the ICU.

UI Hospitals and Clinics has received Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval to participate in the FDA-approved Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clinical study of the Freedom® portable driver. Weighing 13.5 pounds, the Freedom driver is the first U.S. portable driver designed to power SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart both inside and outside the hospital.

"Our hope is that through the FDA clinical study of the Freedom portable driver, stable Total Artificial Heart patients who meet study criteria will be able to leave the hospital and wait for a matching donor heart at home with their families," said Jennifer Goerbig-Campbell, MD, a cardiologist with UI Heart and Vascular Center.

About the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial HeartSynCardia Systems, Inc. (Tucson, AZ) is the privately-held manufacturer of the world's first and only FDA, Health Canada and CE approved Total Artificial Heart. Originally used as a permanent replacement heart, the Total is currently approved as a bridge to transplant for people dying from end-stage biventricular heart failure. More than 900 implants account for more than 210 patient years of life.

Similar to a heart transplant, SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart replaces both failing heart ventricles and the four heart valves. It is the only device that eliminates the symptoms and source of end-stage biventricular failure. The Total Artificial Heart provides immediate, safe blood flow of up to 9.5 liters per minute through both ventricles. This high volume of safe blood flow helps speed the recovery of vital organs, helping make the patient a better transplant candidate.

In March 2011, Fast Company magazine ranked SynCardia #20 among the World's 50 Most Innovative Companies "for giving mobility to artificial heart recipients." Also in March, the longest running health and wellness series on public television, "Healthy Body, Healthy Mind," produced a 30-minute program featuring SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart. View here